DILI, 11 november 2022 (TATOLI) – The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have reached an agreement in principle that will allow Timor-Leste as the 11th member of the organization.
According to the organization’s press release, at the meeting in Phnom Penh, the Kingdom of Cambodia for the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, the leaders agreed “in principle, to admit Timor-Leste as the new member of ASEAN and grant observer status to Timor-Leste and allow its participation in all ASEAN meetings including at the Summit plenaries.
The organization would formalize an objective criteria-based roadmap for Timor-Leste’s full membership, including based on the milestones identified in the reports of the Fact-Finding Missions conducted by the three ASEAN Community pillars, and tasked the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) to formulate the roadmap and report to the 42nd ASEAN Summit for adoption.
According to the statement, the ASEAN leaders agreed that all ASEAN Member States and external partners shall fully support Timor-Leste to achieve the milestones through the provision of capacity budding assistance and any other necessary and relevant support for its full membership in ASEAN.
The dream of Timor-Leste of becoming a member of ASEAN persists since 1975, when the country proclaimed its independence, but has not yet been achieved.
The resource-rich country of 1.3 million people began its bid for ASEAN membership in 2011.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
